The following information is from the EPA website at response.epa.gov.
Starting October 23, 2023, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will begin cleaning up lead contaminated soil in yards of homes near the demolished Exide Battery facility in Logansport, Indiana.
Exide Technologies operated the site at 303 Water Street as a lead-acid storage battery manufacturing facility for the automotive industry from about 1960 to approximately 1989, before fully shutting down in 2009. The former building was demolished in 2016 and has since been vacant.
EPA and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) investigated lead-contaminated soil in the area. Testing and site assessments found elevated lead in some properties near the facility. Several yards had lead concentrations above EPA standards of 400 parts per million. Not every property sampled demonstrated excessive lead levels, so EPA will clean-up yards within the area that do have the elevated lead concentrations.
The clean-up will be conducted at no cost to property owners or residents. High lead levels pose a risk, especially to children’s health. This clean-up, or removal action, will be considered “time-critical” because the lead poses an immediate health threat. It will consist of an approach called “dig and haul” of contaminated soil to an approved landfill.
There may be increased traffic in the neighborhood as crews excavate and transport contaminated soil to approved landfill. The crews will take precautionary measures to make sure the contaminated soil remains securely contained while it travels. EPA will also monitor the air during excavation.
EPA will host a public availability session to present information on the clean-up and answer questions from residents.
Wednesday, October 18, 4 – 7 p.m.
Columbia Elementary School Cafeteria, 20 E Columbia St.
If you are a property owner of a residence in the area west of the facility on Balsam or Aster Street, or the area north of the facility up to Columbia/N 3rd Street, please consider joining the public availability session and signing the voluntary access agreement to give permission to collect soil samples on your property. This work is being done for your health and safety and will be at NO COST to you.
Mail, email or fax the access agreement to:
Lauren Hirschel (hirschel.lauren@epa.gov)
77 W Jackson Blvd (SE-5J)
Chicago, Illinois 60604
fax: 312-980-8733
If you have any questions, you may contact Lauren Hirschel, the On-Scene Coordinator, at 312-480-7976. You can also contact Francisco Arcaute, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, at 312-886-7613.